The Student Success Center and Career Development hosted Viking Quest Day on Aug. 28, a series of seminars and luncheons where new students met with faculty in the Venters Business Building. The event was designed to assist students with deciding on a major.

“It’s targeted to students who are coming to college and undeclared with their major,” Student Success Center director Omar Villarreal said.

While the day was pitched for students with an undeclared major, they were not the only target audience.

“Maybe they signed up for a major and they’re not sure that they want to remain in that major,” Villarreal said.

Part of Viking Quest involved students speaking with advisors.

“We have academic advisors from certain degree programs and career pathways come over and provide sessions,” Career Development director Jennifer Gonzalez said.

Not only were the students invited to meet with advisors, but they were also informed on how to use campus resources.

“We had sessions from our career counselors from the Career Development department on Handshake, which is a career job portal for Del Mar College students and alumni,” Gonzalez said.

Viking Quest also provided information on Del Mar College’s programs.

“We also have sessions on overviews of skills and trades, and also on transferrable programs,” Gonzalez said.

If students had any questions after the sessions, they had an opportunity to ask the advisors directly.

“We had a lunch panel with all the advisors to answer questions from students on the different challenges that they may have in school,” Gonzales said.

“Anything from study skills, time management, registering classes, career exploration, and career readiness.”

Villarreal noticed another aspect of college life that students may be apprehensive about: being ready in a major.

“The truth is that there’s a lot of students who sign up for college and do everything they’re supposed to except be certain about what it is they want to major in,” Villarreal said.

For those who are unsure, Viking Quest was organized to assist them through the process.

“Hopefully the majority of our students who are not sure what it is they want to major in can come and get informed,” Villarreal said.

If a student could not make it to Viking Quest but was still unsure, Gonzalez advised to still see a counselor.

“We are open to prospective students,” Gonzalez said.

“We are very knowledgeable of the wonderful programs that Del Mar College has. At Del Mar College, there is something for everyone.”

Villarreal also advised for new students to experience college regardless of their confidence in a major.

“What I don’t want is for students’ indecision to stop them from enrolling into college,” Villarreal said.

“Take a semester, experience your program, think about what it is you want to major in. Then meet with Career Development, meet with the Student Success Center, meet with your advisors and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”